Mississippi Archaeology Q & A

Book excerpt: How old is this arrowhead? Is there really gold in that Indian mound? What tribe left all these artifacts behind? Can the government take my artifact collection away? For more than twenty years, Evan Peacock, an archaeologist at Mississippi State University, has been fielding and answering questions such as these from the public. In Mississippi Archaeology Q & A, he gathers those answers in one place to give landowners, history buffs, arrowhead hunters, and students new to archaeology an invaluable handbook of dos and don'ts. Peacock writes for the lay reader, supplies humorous anecdotes from his years in the field, and never scolds. Instead he respectfully introduces the neophyte to the wonders of the remarkable prehistoric and historic remains throughout the Magnolia State. Rather than pursuing a hobby in a destructive manner, in-formed artifact collectors can and do contribute to the field. This book offers solid suggestions on how enthusiasts can play a helpful role. Mississippi Archaeology Q & A explains the basic methods that archaeologists use to find, explore, and interpret ancient sites. In a clear and straightforward manner, Peacock divulges what he has learned about landowners' rights and other legal issues. The guide describes many important archaeological sites in Mississippi and adjacent states and the different kinds of artifacts commonly found in the region. For people who wish to protect a site or for those who would like to sell a site or obtain a tax break for its preservation, this guide contains critical information. While the book focuses closely on Native American artifacts, it also thoroughly treats the full range of Mississippi's historical treasures from the remnants of pioneer settlers to Civil War curios.